Thomas A. McBride
Encyclopedia
Thomas Allen McBride was an American
attorney and judge in Oregon
. He was the 20th Chief Justice
on the Oregon Supreme Court
serving three times as chief between 1913 and 1927. Overall he served on Oregon
’s highest court from 1909 till his death in 1930.
near Lafayette, Oregon
. He was one of fourteen children Doctor James McBride
and his wife Mahala Miller had together. One of Thomas’ younger brothers George W. McBride
served as a United States Senator, while an older brother John R. McBride
served in the house and as Idaho
’s territorial chief justice. Thomas attended school in Vancouver, Washington
where he also read law, and then spent some time at what is now Linfield College
. He was then admitted to the bar on October 6, 1870.
Thomas then practiced law in Lafayette, Oregon City
, and then St. Helens
from 1872 to 1877. In 1876, he was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives
as a Republican from Columbia County
. In 1877, he moved to Salt Lake City, Utah
, where he lived until 1880. He then returned to Oregon and practiced at Oregon City before becoming the district attorney (DA) for Clatsop County
. He served as the DA until 1892.
, on December 1, 1893.
On May 1, 1909, Oregon Governor
Frank W. Benson
appointed McBride to the state supreme court to fill the vacancy created when justice Robert S. Bean
resigned. McBride then won a full six year-term in the 1914 election. He was re-elected in 1920 and again in 1926. During his time on the bench he was chief justice of the court from 1913 to 1915, 1917 to 1921, and then from 1923 to 1927. Justice Thomas McBride died in office on September 9, 1930.
. They had two children together. Then in 1927 he married Lottie May Chappell.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney and judge in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. He was the 20th Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
on the Oregon Supreme Court
Oregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States. The OSC holds court at the Oregon Supreme Court Building in Salem, Oregon, near the capitol...
serving three times as chief between 1913 and 1927. Overall he served on Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
’s highest court from 1909 till his death in 1930.
Early life
McBride was born on November 15, 1847 in Yamhill County, OregonYamhill County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Siuslaw National Forest *Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 84,992 people, 28,732 households, and 21,376 families residing in the county. The population density was 119 people per square mile . There were 30,270...
near Lafayette, Oregon
Lafayette, Oregon
Lafayette is a city in Yamhill County, Oregon, United States on the Yamhill River and Oregon Route 99W. It was founded in 1846 and incorporated in 1878...
. He was one of fourteen children Doctor James McBride
James McBride (politician)
James McBride was an American politician, educator, and patriarch of a political family in the state of Oregon. A native of Tennessee, he served in the Oregon Territorial Legislature and as United States Minister to Hawaii, as well as one of the founders of the Oregon Republican Party...
and his wife Mahala Miller had together. One of Thomas’ younger brothers George W. McBride
George W. McBride
George Wycliffe McBride was a politician and businessman from the U.S. state of Oregon. An Oregon native, he served in the Oregon Legislative Assembly as Speaker of the House and as Oregon Secretary of State for two terms before election as United States Senator from Oregon. A Republican, he was...
served as a United States Senator, while an older brother John R. McBride
John R. McBride
John Rogers McBride was a Republican U.S. congressman from Oregon.-Early life:McBride was born near St. Louis, Missouri in 1832, the son of James McBride. In 1851, he moved with his family to Lafayette, Oregon where he became the superintendent of schools at the age of 22...
served in the house and as Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
’s territorial chief justice. Thomas attended school in Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Incorporated in 1857, it is the fourth largest city in the state with a 2010 census population of 161,791 as of April 1, 2010...
where he also read law, and then spent some time at what is now Linfield College
Linfield College
Linfield College is an American private institution of higher learning located in McMinnville, Oregon, United States. As a four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts and sciences college with a campus in Portland, Oregon, it also has an adult degree program located in eight communities throughout the...
. He was then admitted to the bar on October 6, 1870.
Thomas then practiced law in Lafayette, Oregon City
Oregon City, Oregon
Oregon City was the first city in the United States west of the Rocky Mountains to be incorporated. It is the county seat of Clackamas County, Oregon...
, and then St. Helens
St. Helens, Oregon
St. Helens is the county seat of Columbia County, Oregon. It was founded by Captain H. M. Knighton, a native of New England, in 1845 as "Plymouth". The name was changed to St. Helens in the latter part of 1850 for its view of Mount St. Helens some away in Washington. The population was 10,019 at...
from 1872 to 1877. In 1876, he was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
as a Republican from Columbia County
Columbia County, Oregon
Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was named for the Columbia River, which forms its eastern and northern borders. As of 2010, its population was 49,351. The county seat is St. Helens.-Economy:...
. In 1877, he moved to Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, where he lived until 1880. He then returned to Oregon and practiced at Oregon City before becoming the district attorney (DA) for Clatsop County
Clatsop County, Oregon
Clatsop County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for the Clatsop tribe of Native Americans, who lived along the coast of the Pacific Ocean prior to European settlement. As of 2010, the population was 37,039. The county seat is Astoria.-Economy:The principal...
. He served as the DA until 1892.
Judicial career
In 1892, McBride became Clatsop County Circuit Court judge, serving until 1909. While serving on the court he sentenced two people to death by hanging, including the first legal hanging in Clatsop County, OregonClatsop County, Oregon
Clatsop County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for the Clatsop tribe of Native Americans, who lived along the coast of the Pacific Ocean prior to European settlement. As of 2010, the population was 37,039. The county seat is Astoria.-Economy:The principal...
, on December 1, 1893.
On May 1, 1909, Oregon Governor
Governor of Oregon
The Governor of Oregon is the top executive of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. territorial governments....
Frank W. Benson
Frank W. Benson (Oregon Governor)
Frank W. Benson was an American politician, a Republican, and the 12th Governor of Oregon from 1909 to 1910. A native of California, Benson also served as educator, a land office clerk, and was twice elected as Oregon Secretary of State...
appointed McBride to the state supreme court to fill the vacancy created when justice Robert S. Bean
Robert S. Bean
Robert Sharp Bean was an American attorney and judge in the state of Oregon. He was the 16th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, serving as chief justice three different times. Bean was on the state’ highest court from 1890 to 1909 when he was appointed as a judge for the United States...
resigned. McBride then won a full six year-term in the 1914 election. He was re-elected in 1920 and again in 1926. During his time on the bench he was chief justice of the court from 1913 to 1915, 1917 to 1921, and then from 1923 to 1927. Justice Thomas McBride died in office on September 9, 1930.
Family
McBride first married on February 7, 1874, to Mary E. Merrill of Columbia County, OregonColumbia County, Oregon
Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was named for the Columbia River, which forms its eastern and northern borders. As of 2010, its population was 49,351. The county seat is St. Helens.-Economy:...
. They had two children together. Then in 1927 he married Lottie May Chappell.